The Canary Islands The Canary Islands in Africa The Canary Islands – the Canary Islands is a Spanish archipelago just off the northeast coast West African continent, located 100 km west of the border between Morocco and Western Sahara. The Canary Islands are a Spanish autonomous community and an outer zone of the European Union. The islands are (largest to smallest): Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Graciosa, Alegranza, Isla de Lobos Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste. The Canary Islands are legally recognized as a national of Spain. Geographically it is part of the African continent. canary islands The archipelago of beaches, climate, natural attractions and important, particularly Teide National Park and Mount Teide (the third largest volcano in the world), making it a major tourist destination, with over 12 million visitors a year, mainly in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. The islands have a subtropical climate with long hot summers and winters, moderately warm.

[9] Because of its location above the temperature inversion layer, the islands are ideal for astronomical observations. For this reason, two professional observatories, the Teide Observatory in Tenerife and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory was on La Palma island, built on the islands. The capital of the Autonomous Community is by the cities of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz, which in turn are the capitals of the provinces of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas province divided. Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands since 1768, except for a brief period in 1910. From 1833, the territorial division of the Kingdom of Spain and 1927 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the only capital of the Canary Islands until 1927, when a decree ordered that the capital of the Canary Islands are divided as to present.The it remains the third largest city Canary Islands, La Laguna (World Heritage) in Tenerife. During the time of the Spanish empire in the Canary Islands is the main reason for the Spanish galleons stopping on the way to America were from the East because of the favorable wind direction.

Etymology The name Islas Canarias is likely derived from the Latin Insula Canaria, meaning “Island of the Dogs”, a name applied originally only to Gran Canaria. According to the historian Pliny the Elder, called King Juba II of Mauritania , Canary Island, because he is “very important, many of Annex dogs.” Another hypothesis is that the dogs were called in fact a kind of monk seal (Canis marinus or “sea bear”, a Latin term for “seal”) was in danger of extinction and is no longer present in the islands Canary. The population density of seals was perhaps the characteristic that most struck the few ancient Romans who established contact with the islands of the sea have Alternatively, it is said that the first inhabitants of the island, the Guanches used to worship dogs, and they mummified dogs in general treated as sacred animals. The ancient Greeks also knew people who live far west of the “dog head” principles, dogs are worshiped on the island. Some assume that the Canary Islands and the ancient Egyptian dog-worship cult of Anubis dog-headed god are closely related, but there is no explanation, which was first given.

Geography Tenerife, with 865,070 inhabitants, is both the Canary Islands and Spain, the most populated island. Tenerife is the largest island of the archipelago. The island of Fuerteventura is the second largest of the archipelago and is located 100 km off the African coast. The islands form the Macaronesia ecoregion with the Azores, Cape Verde, Madeira and the wild. The archipelago consists of seven large and several smaller islands, which are all of volcanic origin. The Teide volcano on Tenerife is the highest mountain in Spain, and the third largest volcano in the world on a volcanic island in the ocean. All the islands except La Gomera have been active in the millions of years, four of them (Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro) have historical records of eruptions since European discovery. The islands rise out of Jurassic oceanic crust associated with the opening of the Atlantic. Underwater magmatism commenced during the Cretaceous period, and reached the ocean surface during the Miocene.

The islands are considered a separate section of the province Atlas Mountains Physiographic, part of the larger African Alpine System division. the canary islands canary islands africa Depending on the location of the islands regarding the Northeast trade winds, the climate is mild and wet or very dry. Several native species are laurel forests. Accordingly, each island in the Canary Islands tend to have different microclimates. These islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera is located west of the islands have a climate that is influenced by the flow of humid Gulf. They are good, even at a low level and have large areas of vegetation of subtropical laurel forest. As you move towards the African coast to the east, will reduce the influence of the Gulf Stream, the islands and drier. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote in the islands that are closest to the mainland of Africa, are actually desert or semidesert. Regarding the climate in Tenerife is very interesting. The north of the island is under the influence of Atlantic winds and wet are well covered, while the south of the island around the tourist resorts of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos is dry.

The island rises to 4000 meters and the height at which a relatively moist cool climate prosper, endemic pine forests of Pinus canariensis. Many of the species in the Canary Islands, as the Canary Island pine and the dragon tree, Dracaena draco are endemic, as Sabin Berthelot and Philip Barker Webb in their epic work, The Natural History Of Canary Islands (1835-1850) has found. Islands The islands are in alphabetical order: El Hierro El Hierro, the westernmost island, covers 268.71 km ², making it the smallest of the main islands, and the least populated with 10,753 inhabitants. The entire island was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2000. Valverde is the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Ferro is also known, was it ever be as the westernmost country in the world. Fuerteventura Fuerteventura, with an area of ​​1.660 km, is the second largest island of the archipelago, and the second most easterly. It was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

It has a population of 100,929. As the oldest of the islands, it is one that is more eroded: the climax is the highlight of the Bramble, at an altitude of 807 m. The capital is Puerto del Rosario. Gran Canaria Gran Canaria has 845,676 inhabitants. The capital, Las Palmas (377,203 inhabitants), is the most populous city and from the State Capital with the Canary Islands Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Gran Canaria surface area is 1560 km ². In the center of the island lie the Roque Nublo (1813 m) and Pico de las Nieves (“Peak of Snow”) (1949 m). In the south of the island, the dunes of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) are, is the tourist attraction. La Gomera La Gomera has an area of ​​369.76 square kilometers and is the second most populated island, with at least 22,622 inhabitants. Geologically, it is one of the oldest in the Archipelago.

The island’s capital is San Sebastian de La Gomera. Garajonay National Park can be found here. la gomera Lanzarote Lanzarote is the easternmost island of the archipelago and one of the oldest, and showed signs of recent volcanic activity. It has an area of ​​845.94 square kilometers and a population of 506 139 inhabitants, including the adjacent islands of the archipelago Chinijo. The capital is Arrecife, with 56,834 inhabitants. Chinijo archipelago The archipelago includes the islands of La Graciosa Chinijo, Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste. It has an area of ​​40.8 square kilometers and a population of 658 inhabitants, all of them in the island of La Graciosa. At 29 km ², La Graciosa is the smallest inhabited island of the Canaries, and the largest island of the archipelago Chinijo.

La Palma La Palma, with 86,528 inhabitants in an area of ​​708.32 square kilometers in its entirety a biosphere reserve. He shows no signs of recent volcanic activity, although the volcanic eruption in recorded Teneguía last in 1971. Furthermore, it is the second highest of the Canary Islands, with the Roque de los Muchachos (2423 m) the highest point. Santa Cruz de La Palma (known on the island simply as “La Palma”) is the capital. Tenerife Tenerife is an area of ​​2034 square kilometers, the largest island of the Canaries. In addition, 906,854 people in the most populated island of the archipelago and Spain. Two of the islands most important cities are located on: The capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna (World Heritage). San Cristobal de La Laguna, the second largest city of the island is home to the oldest university in the Canary Islands. Teide at 3718 meters the highest mountain in Spain and also a World Heritage Site.

canary islands resorts BBC NEWS | Africa | African migrants' desperate journey African migrants' desperate journey BBC, Tenerife Thousands of Africans have risked their lives to reach Tenerife Nigerian migrant worker Akum knew that she had to break the law to get to Europe. She works in the popular tourist resort of Tenerife in the Canary Islands - now becoming one of the chosen destinations for people desperate to escape Africa. "The problem is life in Africa is terrible, there is serious poverty there and for many of us there is no option but to get out, get out via illegal means," she explains. Akum is just one of the thousands of Africans who have risked their lives crossing the sea to seek new opportunities in the European Union. "If you go to the British Embassy or French or Spanish it is next to impossible to get a visa to visit. I have no intention of going back to Africa," says Akum, who like many refugees did not give her full name for fear of persecution by the Spanish authorities. To look into the eyes of a man who has been at sea for seven days, not sure whether he would get to these shores alive or dead - it's just terrible Austin Taylor, relief co-ordinator Is migration a problem?

Tenerife - famous for its fun, sun and sand - is now on the frontline of international efforts to keep illegal African migrants out of Europe. Since the beginning of 2006, up to 10,000 Africans have boarded handmade boats in the hope of getting into Europe, ready to risk death. That is already twice the number recorded in 2005. Officials say more than 1,700 have died along the way and coastguards working off the Canary Islands have rescued hundreds of men, women and children. Gateway The Canary Islands lie only 100km (60 miles) off Africa's west coast, but they belong to Spain, an EU member state. I said we ought to send these people arriving in small ships to Madrid and Brussels so that they can understand how serious the situation is Ricardo Melchior Canary Islands' president If would-be migrants arrive on shore alive, a borderless Europe means the prospect of eventually being able to travel, work and live in any of the 25 EU countries. Similarly perilous journeys are tried from north-east Africa through Libya and into Italy and Malta via the island of Lampedusa.

Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish-ruled enclaves on the African mainland, have also attracted migrants. Migrants who survive the journey to the Canaries are treated by the Red Cross, then detained and flown to the Spanish capital, Madrid, where their asylum claims are processed. If they are unlucky, as many are, they are flown home. Austin Taylor, who runs the emergency relief co-ordination centre in Tenerife, believes it is time governments try to sort the problem out and ensure safe passage for migrants. "To look into the eyes of a man who has been at sea for seven days, not sure whether he would get to these shores alive or dead - it's just terrible," he says. "We the rescue services need more support and more resources to cope with the numbers," Mr Taylor argues. "That support has to come from all quarters, this is not just a problem for Spain, it's a problem for Europe." 'Crisis' Individual agreements between Spain and West African states to repatriate migrants have been ineffective. I can earn 600 euros per month, which I can send to Dakar, to my family...

it goes a long way Aloom, Senegalese migrant European and African government ministers and United Nations representatives are meeting in Rabat, Morocco on Monday to try to devise a plan to address the question of illegal migration. The Canary Islands' president, Ricardo Melchior, says such a meeting is overdue, to address what he calls a crisis. "Two months ago I said we ought to send these people arriving in small ships to Madrid and Brussels so that they can understand how serious the situation is," he says. "This upcoming meeting I think means that finally they are starting to get it." Status The latest move comes after last month's decision by EU members to deploy coastguard patrols and helicopter surveillance units off the coasts Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and The Gambia. Research suggests that parts of Europe need more immigrants due to labour shortages, but Europe insists that migration must be legal. Some commentators feel that giving migrants legal status would encourage more to people make the journey. Already, many of the migrants feel they have no option but to head for Europe.

"I cannot speak for all of Africa, I can only speak about Senegal," said Aloom, a Senegalese woman who shares a block of flats with about 40 compatriots in El Fraile, in the south of Tenerife. "The government of Senegal are trying to put the country on the right track - but it will take a long time, I cannot wait. "Here in Spain I can earn 600 euros per month [$763], which I can send to Dakar, to my family, that is almost 40,000 in the local currency, it goes a long way," Aloom says. Another migrant, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the journey across the sea showed how desperate people were. "Many are tricked into thinking that it is a very short journey, that it is safe and that they will be here in no time. That is not true, it is extremely dangerous and hundreds of people have died." The BBC's Africa Have Your Say programme will be discussing migration at 1600GMT on Thursday 6 July 2006.

Canary Islands - Holiday Weather Holiday Weather See Canary Islands links in our directory About Canary Islands The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located off the west coast of Africa . From west to east the main islands are La Palma , La Gomera , Tenerife , Gran Canaria , Fuerteventura and Lanzarote . The islands’ mild temperatures are why they have long been known as ‘the islands of eternal spring.’ The mild climate occurs largely because of the islands’ location in the path of the Canary current. The Canary current is a cool ocean current which flows toward the southwest. The islands lie blocking this current so they are directly affected by these cooler waters. Temperatures on the islands are usually a couple of degrees cooler than expected at their latitude. The archipelago generally experiences mild winters and warm summers. Year round the Canary Islands receive warm, sunny weather with an average temperature that ranges from 17°C in the winter to 24°C in the summer. There are rarely major temperature extremes, though it is not uncommon for the mercury to rise above 30°C in the peak of summer, especially in eastern areas. The islands closer to Africa are hotter and drier than those to the west.

The Canary Islands are often associated with having the best climate in the world due to its spring-like weather all year round, with an annual average temperature of 21°C (71.6°F). The Canaries also boast over 3000 hours of sunlight a year and even 4800 hours of daylight, making the islands the sunniest part of Europe , with the largest amount of daylight hours. This is largely down to the islands position next to the Western Sahara and southern Morocco. The Canary Islands offer some of the clearest skies in the world due to the trade winds and the thermal inversion which prevents cloud formation. Furthermore, the Canaries are protected by the Law for the Protection of the Astronomical Quality for the Conservatives of the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute, which controls atmospheric light pollution and even regulates flight routes so the skies are crystal clear throughout the year. This also means that the Canary Islands are regarded as one of the best places on earth to observe space and even features a number of Astrophysics observatories. Across each island it is generally safe to say that the weather varies from the north to the south.

The northwest coasts of the islands are often significantly cooler and wetter than the south coasts as the northeast is exposed to the predominant northeast trade winds but the west is exposed to hot, dry winds from the African continent. The difference in weather conditions from north to south is most pronounced in the winter when true beach weather can develop in the middle of winter in the south while it is rarely warm enough to be without a light sweater in the north. As a result, the flora and fauna can also vary from north to south. The north coasts are luscious while the southern slopes are usually sunny deserts. For hundreds of years the Canary Islands have been known for the beneficial health properties of their super year round climate. Travellers from around the world continue to visit the islands for this very reason, to relax and revitalize. Due to the Canaries extraordinary climate, long hours of sunshine, fresh sea breeze, warm waters and a natural volcanic landscape, they are one of the best holiday destinations for the whole family. Not only is the weather in the Canary Islands unbeatable, they also offer a number of super activities for the whole family such as water sports, whale watching, spas, hiking, golf, water parks and much more.

Each island is also unique in character from the dramatic coastline of El Hierro Island to the spectacular volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, where you will find Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. Unwind in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Winter The winter months last from November to March and are only slightly cooler compared to the summer, but are still considered as paradise compared to most of mainland Europe and North America. For the best rates you may want to visit the Canary Islands during November and mid-December as the airfares and accommodation generally tend to be a lot cheaper at this time of year, plus it is still pleasantly warm. Believe it or not, the winter months are actually one of the busiest seasons in the Canary Islands as many people vacate to the Canaries to escape from the cold, harsh weather back home. In the winter months the daily highs are about 17°C and nightly lows are rarely cooler than 8°C. Daily sunshine hours range from an average of six per day in winter, compared to as many as twelve in the summer months. During winter there are occasional stormy wet periods as the weather is disturbed by the influence of an Atlantic depression, however, these periods are not overly frequent.

Across the islands the levels of rainfall often differ due to the north-easterly winds, which means on average most precipitation is deposited in the north east, while the southern area tends to remain a lot more dry and sunny. For example, in Tenerife, the island receives on average 66mm of rainfall in January, while Gran Canaria is likely to receive 30mm of precipitation. Summer In the summer months (from June to September) the daily highs in the Canaries generally sit around 27°C. At nighttime the mercury will fall to about 18°C. Fog and cloud may occur sporadically in the summer months, but as a whole summer is usually dry and sunny. Las Americas Beach Adeje coast Beach in south Tenerife, Canary Islands. Occasionally, hot, dry air blows from the Sahara desert. This is when the warmest days in summer will occur. Once the wind reaches the islands it is significantly cooler than on the coast of Africa; it cools as it passes over the cold ocean water. The Canary Islands also often experience heat waves during the summer months.

In May 2012, temperatures in Gran Canaria exceeded a sweltering 37°C, when at this time of year it is more common for temperatures to hover between 22°C and 27°C. Furthermore, one of the hottest days ever recorded in the Canary Islands was in Lanzarote on August 6th in 1980, when temperatures reached a high of 43.6°C, which is well above the average at this time of year. When visiting the Canary Islands during the summer season always make sure to top up on water and sun cream and stay in the shade when it’s hot. Weather extremes Snowfall is usually very rare in the Canary Islands, however, it is not unheard of. Recently, in January 2014, snow fell in the area of Las Mesas, found at the summit of Gran Canaria. Similar weather conditions occurred in high areas of Tenerife, such as Mount Teide, where all access roads had to be closed off due to dangerous conditions. Furthermore, La Palma was struck by a power failure that lasted a total of two hours at the height of the stormy conditions.

This also resulted in the cancellation of ferry crossings and some flights to and from the Canary Islands. In December 2013, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro experienced an intense storm, which caused flash floods across the archipelago islands. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate their homes, due to the sudden downpour of rain, which also managed to cut off power and dozens of roads. It was estimated that wind speeds reached up to 180km/h and over 3000 lightning bolts struck the Canary Islands in a single morning. The Canary Islands are prone to dust storms, due to their close proximity to the west coast of Africa and the Western Sahara. This type of phenomenon can happen almost at any time of the year, but is usually most likely to occur during February and March. The fine sand particles in the wind cause the air to become thick and visibility can be severely reduced to 200 metres or less, and is often compared to thick fog, depending on the severity. Dust storms can also bring along heavy rainfall, immediately afterwards.

Furthermore, it is very uncommon for the Canary Islands to be hit by a hurricane, but on November 23rd 2005, the north of the Canaries were hit by Tropical Storm Delta, where it is estimated that wind speeds reached 124mph in some parts of Tenerife. It is believed that more than 200,000 people were affected by the storm, as the intense winds cut out electricity in parts of the Canary Islands. The stormed later moved on to Morocco, losing intensity. Arrecife Lanzarote Playa Reducto beach, Canary Islands Canary Islands Yacht Charters – YachtWorld Charters Canary Islands Overview The city of Las Palmas, on the island of Gran Canaria The Las Canarias archipelago is located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa. The seven volcanic islands share a year round spring climate, but moving from one to the other can take visitors from sub-tropical vegetation to semi-desert areas. Almost half the land mass falls under some protection as park land. The frequency of gales is low and the islands are not affected by hurricanes.

Thanks to the trade winds, the prevailing wind is north-easterly and most islands are about a day's sail apart. Tenerife is the largest, but Gran Canaria and Lanzarote also boast airports and charter bases. Crewed or bareboat charters are available on a variety of yachts including monohull and catamaran. High season runs from November to April, but despite a position along the Tropic of Cancer, the Canaries are not too hot in the summer. Canary Islands Yacht Charter: Spanish Parks Off the African Coast Spain’s Las Canarias archipelago, the Canary Island chain, is located off the northwest coast of mainland Africa. Almost half the landmass falls under some protection as parkland and four of Spain’s 14 national parks can be found in these volcanic islands. The seven major islands and six islets have micro climates that will take the visitor from sub-tropical to semi-desert areas, so the cruising grounds are varied and dramatic. The weather is reminiscent of permanent spring, much like that of coastal Southern California, with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bareboat chartering is ideal April to November but hardy sailors from Northern Europe will be seen on boats and beaches in the winter months as well. Whatever the origin of the name "Canary Islands," dogs clearly play an important role in the culture here. The Canary Islands spread over 240 miles in an East-West line. A major tourist destination for Europeans hailing from colder climes, the islands are technically an autonomous province of Spain but lie only 65 miles west of Morocco, in northern Africa. With steady northeasterly trade winds and a mild climate year-round, these seven islands (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera, and Hierro) and their six smaller siblings (Alegranza, Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Lobos) offer ideal cruising grounds loaded with natural beauty and treasures of European history. The Canary island chain lies just off the coast of northern Africa. Photo by NASA. Contrary to popular belief, the Canary Islands do not have many canaries—and they were not named for the small birds.

The origin of the name is hazy but it is derived from the Latin Canariae Insulae, meaning “Island of the Dogs.” Some speculate that the first visitors found multitudes of large dogs, while others believe that the original inhabitants of the islands, called Guanches, used to worship dogs and mummified them. Still a third theory says that monk seals, so-called sea dogs, were once plentiful in these islands and gave them their name. Today, the association of the islands with dogs is solid and two dogs even appear on the country’s coat of arms. Due to strong trade winds, distances between the islands, and the large Atlantic swell, a one-way downwind charter will not only be more comfortable, but will also allow you to explore more of the islands without having to beat back to an upwind base. Canary Sun Sailing for example, is a charter company that will accommodate that arrangement for an extra fee of 300 Euros. The cruising grounds are diverse from the dry volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura to the green forested areas of Tenerife, with Gran Canaria and its rich urban history in between.

It’s best to set a loose itinerary with time to explore on land, either by visiting one of the national parks or strolling through shops and restaurants of the numerous small towns. Lanzarote is an island of natural beauty that was shaped by the world’s longest volcanic eruption, which lasted from 1730 to 1736. It is one of only four islands in the world to have received the Unesco Reserva de la Biosfera designation in recognition of its unique ecosystem. The surrounding waters are home to 27 different types of whales and dolphins, Loggerhead turtles, and flying fish. A visit to Timanfaya National Park provides not only spectacular scenery but also a chance to visit a restaurant that uses a hole in the ground to grill fish and meat, thanks to the intense heat that is still generated in the earth below. Other activities may include taking in a surfing competition or visiting the Jameos del Agua, a volcanic tube that holds a subterranean auditorium, tropical gardens and a bar, all designed by artist Cesar Manrique. Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the archipelago and holds the capital of Las Palmas.

To the north, the island is sub-tropical, an ideal place for vineyards and banana plantations due to rain and cooler temperatures in the mountains. The southern end is arid and warm with large beaches and therefore many of the tourist hotels. The city of Las Palmas has a vibrant culture with outdoor pedestrian malls dotted with small shops and cafes. A must-see is Vegueta, the old town, with its cathedral and the Christopher Columbus house. If you are chartering with Canary Sun Sailing, which has a base in Las Palmas, a drink at the renowned Real Clubo Nautico de Gran Canaria is another must. A stroll along the waterfront which lines the marinas will also bring you to excellent restaurants where you are likely to spot sailors from around the world, and depending on the time of year, perhaps even participants of the ARC, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers , which starts from here and finishes in the Caribbean. Strolls along the waterfront of Gran Canaria include plenty to see, such as this unique sand sculpture. Tenerife, or the “Island of Eternal Spring,” lies a little farther downwind, with a dormant volcano and myriad marinas and golf courses.

The island’s landscape is dominated by snow-capped Mount Teide (12,198 feet), which is Spain’s highest peak. It is the largest island in the archipelago and the most visited. Its capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, can get quite busy during carnival season. Another popular destination is San Cristobal de la Laguna, the third largest city in the Canary Islands and one that has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Getting there Iberia, KLM and Air France all service the islands with most flights connecting in Madrid although there are some direct flights from London. Ferries and inter-island flights are easy to arrange, and between the well-developed tourist infrastructure and the friendly locals, the Canary Islands are an excellent getaway for week or more. Due to the distances and winds, however, it is advised to have an experienced sailor aboard. Canary Islands Figure 5: Genetic evolution of the Canary Islands from Miocene to present (Carracedo, 1999). Figure 6: Formation stages of volcanic islands associated with “hot spots” (modified from Walker, 1990).

Figure 7: Basaltic pillow lavas of the submarine stage from La Palma island (Barranco Las Angustias). Figure 8: Basaltic lava flows of the shield-building stage from Gran Canaria (the cliffs of Güigüi). Figure 9: Unconformity between a trachy-phonolitic cone sheet of the declining stage and horizontal volcanic rocks of the rejuvenation stage from Gran Canaria (Barranco de Tejeda). Figure 10: Line of strombolian cones in Timanfaya National Park associated with the rejuvenation stage of Lanzarote. The successive stages are commonly separated from each other by time gaps several million years long and there are sometimes time gaps withing a single stage.

In addition, the landscape of the Canaries is characterized by collapse structures – vertical collapse calderas (such as the Caldera de Tejeda in Gran Canaria), gravitational collapse scarps and embayments (Figure 11) such as El Golfo, Julán y Las Playas and El Hierro (Figure 12) and rift zones (Figure 13), locally known as “dorsales” (such as the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma). Figure 11: Debris avalanches, debris flows and slumps in the Canaries zone (M. Canals, 2003). Click on image for enlargement. Figure 12: Giant landslides of El Hierro (M. Canals, 2003). Figure 13: Aerial view of the southern part of La Palma and Cumbre Nueva rift (Photo: S. Socorro).

The Canaries also show some interesting differences with the Hawaii Islands, however: the geochemical evolution of their magmas (alkaline suite), the formation of central stratovolcanoes (Roque Nublo in Gran Canaria and Teide in Tenerife (Figure 14), the island tectonics, e.g., ductile shears associated with transtensive systems (Fernandez et al., 1997; Figure 15), compressional structures such as recumbent folds (Robertson & Stillman, 1979), blocks differentially uplifted from the sea floor – 2 km for La Palma and 2 – 4 km for Fuerteventura, and tectonic lineaments with different azimuths in each island, and the small or zero subsidence – in several islands there are marine structures and deposits of different ages up to several million years old that appear to have remained close to present-day sea level. Figure 14: Northwest littoral area of Tenerife and view of the Teide stratovolcano. Figure 15: Shear zone associated with the submarine stage of Fuerteventura (Caleta de la Cruz, west coast).

Carbonatites, syenites and gabbros are deformed and intruded by later basaltic dykes. The volume and distribution of the volcanoes provides interesting information about the evolution of the archipelago. The islands rest on an oceanic floor that deepens progressively westward, reaching a depth of 4,000 m in the area of La Palma and El Hierro (Figure 16A). Shaded relief images (Figure 16B), which give an empty ocean view of the Canarian chain, clearly show that the elevation and emerged volume of the islands increase as their age decreases, with a generally westward trend. The islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, and the chain of seamounts off Cape Juby, are parallel to the continental margin, whereas most of the remaining islands of the archipelago follow a general east-west trend. Figure 16: Shaded relief view of the Canary Islands from the east (A) and east-west cross-section (B) (from Carracedo et al., 2002). The dual line of La Palma and El Hierro forms a north-south trend and are thought to be associated with changes in plate motion.

In addition, Rihm et al. (1998) demonstrate the presence of a group of apparently young seamounts (the Las Hijas seamounts) located 70 km SE of El Hierro, perhaps destined to become the next Canarian islands. The rock types in the Canary Islands are diverse and include melilitites, nephelinites, basanites, tholeiitic and alkali basalts, tephrites, rhyiodacites, rhyolites, pantellerites, comendites, trachytes, phonolites and carbonatites. In other words, they comprise a typical oceanic alkaline suite with saturated and undersaturated end members. Most basalts are alkaline in the shield-building stages, trachytes and phonolites are very common in the declining stages, while the rejuvenation stages produced essentially basanites and nephelinites. Total alkali vs. silica (TAS) diagrams of volcanic rocks from the Canary Islands (Figure 17) show that they fall in the alkaline, silica-undersaturated field. There is a generally bimodal grouping into basalt-basanite and trachyte-phonolite compositions.

Figure 17 also shows that most samples correspond to moderately alkaline (alkali basalt-trachyte) or highly alkaline (basanite-phonolite) rocks. Figure 17: Total alkali versus silica diagrams (TAS) with analyses of Canaries volcanic rocks (Carracedo et al., 2002). Rocks of tholeiitic affinity have been recognized only in the oldest units of Gran Canaria and in the most recent lavas of Lanzarote. Ultra-alkaline rocks appear mainly in Gran Canaria (ol-melilitites and nephelinites) and Fuerteventura (ol-nephelinites), corresponding to the rejuvenation stage. There are notable differences in the alkalinity and abundance of rock types between the islands. Gran Canaria has rocks embracing all compositions from the most to the least alkaline, whereas in the other islands the alkalinity of lava flows is mostly homogeneous. The most alkaline is La Palma, whereas Tenerife is less so, being on the boundary between highly and moderately alkaline.

El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote show the least overall alkalinity – all are moderately alkaline. The islands with the least abundance of felsic rocks (< 1%) are Lanzarote and El Hierro, with ~ 3% on La Palma, La Gomera and Fuerteventura, and the central islands (Gran Canaria and Tenerife) having the largest abundance (>10%). Mg variation diagrams of Canarian rocks show similar trends in all the islands (Figure 18), with decreasing MgO in basic rocks (basalts, basanites; < 6%) and the trachytic-phonolitic rocks (MgO < 1%). Both CaO and FeO decrease slightly, while Al2O3 rises considerably and TiO2 has a tendency to increase slightly. Trace-element data show the most incompatible elements increasing from the basalts to the trachybasalts and basaltic trachyandesites, with a reduction in Ti and P, possibly due to Fe-Ti oxides and apatite crystallization (Figure 19).

The trace- and radiogenic-isotope contents are characteristic of HIMU OIBs, although with some variations depending on the age of the various units (Weaver, 1991; Hoernle et al., 1991; Thirwall et al., 1997). Figure 18: Plots of MgO vs. major oxides from Canary Islands volcanic rocks (Carracedo et al., 2002). Figure 19: Plots of incompatible trace elements normalized to primitive mantle (Carracedo et al., 2002). Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic analyses have been interpreted as indicating that the magmas of the Canary Islands represent a multicomponent mixture of different reservoirs – a HIMU component and a second end-member with lithospheric (EM), asthenospheric (DM) and additional HIMU components (Cousens et al., 1990; Hoernle & Tilton, 1991; Hoernle et al., 1991; Hoernle & Schmincke, 1993; Neuman et al., 1995).

Summary The Canary archipelago developed at a passive continental margin, on Jurassic oceanic lithosphere and a slow-moving tectonic plate. There are several genetic hypotheses for the Canary Islands, including a propagating fracture, a local extensional ridge, uplifted tectonic blocks and an unifying model but it is generally assumed that the archipelago originated from residual old plume material in the upper mantle. The first alkaline magmatic manifestations of this hot spot occurred at Fuerteventura during the Upper Cretaceous (~ 70 Ma), submarine volcanism started in the Eocene-Oligocene (~ 39 Ma) and subaerial volcanism in the Miocene (~ 20.6 Ma). There is a general progression of the oldest volcanism, thought to be induced by westward motion of the African plate and thus El Hierro island has the oldest dated subaerial Quaternary (~ 1.1 Ma) volcanism. The chain has been active along its entire length during the last million years, however. Canary Island volcanism involves submarine stages, followed by shield-building, declining, erosive and rejuvenation stages.

Three groups of islands are currently in the rejuvenation stage – Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. La Gomera is in the erosional stage, and La Palma and El Hierro are in the declining stage. The Canary Islands show some interesting differences with other oceanic islands such as the formation of central stratovolcanoes, island tectonics that include ductile shears and compressional structures, and small or zero subsidence. For more information about the geology of the Canary Islands, see: Carracedo, J.C., Pérez, F.J., Ancochea, E., Meco J., Hernán, F., Cubas C.R., Casillas, R., Rodriguez, E. and Ahijado, A., 2002. Cenozoic volcanism II: The Canary Islands. In: The Geology of Spain. Ed. Gibbons, W. and Moreno, T., Geological Society of London, 439-472. References Anguita, F. and Hernán, F., 1975. A propagating fracture model versus a hot spot origin for the Canary Islands. Earth Planet.

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Question: The Canary Islands lie due west of which African Country?
Answer: MOROCCO